Limited Government, A Return to Tribal Cooperation
It seems there is almost something inherently evil about too much emphasis on centralized government. The desire to control larger and larger swaths of population fuels larger and larger centralized government, which then becomes increasingly distant from the citizens it governs. Rather than being a force that can represent people of ever increasing diversity, it ends up simply herding them all into one giant stall wherein it can begin branding and controlling them, all in the supposed interests of safety and security. The government, far removed from the locals, becomes corrupt and abusive in its out-of-sight-out-of-mind ivory tower.
Large corrupt and abusive centralized governments throughout history have been the breeding ground for tyrants within which to arise and/or continue. Throw out just enough corn feed to satisfy the cattle and sheep corralled in their local fields, so as to keep them reliant on government and corporate control. Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece, Rome, and Islamic Caliphate are obvious Biblical examples of large centralized governments. There are also many “modern” examples since then, such as Russia and China. Even governments and nations that start out with the best intentions can fall victim to these temptations. Most recently on the world scene we have seen the rise of Globalist attempts to eliminate borders in order to consolidate power amongst the few. Promoting this agenda are powerful organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Economic Forum. Their tentacles have reached into the agendas of national government leaders around the world. The anti-human propaganda they use to take control has deceived the masses and hurled us headlong toward a world of suffering, despair, chaos, and utter destruction. It came to a terrifying head in the last four years in the United States of America and other western nations, but has recently been at least temporarily stifled under the current administration. We hope for the best going forward, but unfortunately the pendulum seems to swing back and forth. There is a way to avoid going back.
The first thing to realize is that the Creator God worshipped by faithful spiritual Jews, is opposed to this form of government. God’s intent for humans is found in more limited but cooperating, national, community, and family governance models. That’s because for Him, the family dynamic is the key to a just and peaceful world. A primary focus on the family, supported by limited community and national government, is the method promoted by Yahweh and His human agent-son and anointed king, Jesus of Nazareth. This is what he will restore to planet earth when he returns to setup the government which is Biblically called, the Kingdom of God.
Even though the Church of God is not now the Kingdom of God, those who are a part of it are to willingly and enthusiastically embrace the Parent/child dynamic which is at the heart of the New Covenant arrangement (Heb. 8:10-11) preached and lived by the unique Son Jesus himself (Heb. 2:2-3; 3:5-6). This arrangement is defined as a process within which the Father’s heart, via His holy spirit, is increasingly understood and believed in by those who desire to be like Him…which is the hallmark of faithful and admiring children. This makes perfect sense since the holy spirit which now comes from the Father and the Son (John 14:23), is the spirit of son-ship whereby we cry “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:5-7).
When we consider the “tree of life” which was placed in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of human history (Genesis 2:9), and is found again in God’s future Kingdom (Revelation 22:2, 14), what we see through further study is that it represents the ideological pursuit the Creator/Father intended for mankind. The tree is pictured as being watered by the spirit of God and His firstborn Son. We see this symbolic (and probably also literal in the future) connection between the spirit of God and water, along with its healing effects, in John 7:37-39. This same spirit is one of a Parent/child mentality as already stated and referenced above in Romans 8 and Galatians 4. Therefore this author logically concludes that right from the get-go it was God’s original intention that this dynamic and mindset would be the ultimate healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2). It will fix the world at that time after it is implemented.
It is clear in the Biblical narrative that God is working out His plan for the salvation of mankind through the nation of Israel, His people in the Old Covenant dispensation of history. When the birth, life, and death of His firstborn son occurred, He began working with the international Israel of God…spiritual Israel (which of course has included and will yet include more believers from ethnic/national Israel). But notice that God began the nation with just one man named Abram (renamed Abraham, “the father of many nations”) in His plan to setup the national Israel of old, because of his faith (Genesis 15:6) and because He knew he would raise his children in the worship of the one true God (Genesis 18:19). God also told him that one of his descendants would be a blessing to all families of the earth (Gen. 12:3, referring to Jesus). Later his grandson, Jacob, would have twelve sons whose descendants became the twelve expanded tribes/families settling in the Promised Land of Palestine. The inheritance of the land was divided by family or tribe, yet they all worked together in various ways such as common worship and defense. But each tribe was essentially self-governing. There were some common laws they all followed, but they were limited in scope. There was also spiritual leadership and occasional military leadership in times of trouble from common enemies.
However, to God’s displeasure, the tribes ultimately decided they wanted a King over them all…a more centralized government. They wanted to be like all the other nations surrounding them. Although it started out innocent enough, before long there was political infighting and intrigue. Eventually false religious worship took firm root in the nation, something which they were never fully able to shake. Political alliances were made with other nations who were their enemies, and eventually those worked to the destruction of their nation.
When spiritual Israel first began to expand at Pentecost, Jews came together to celebrate that religious feast from various nations and languages. When the holy spirit came amongst the original apostles, it did not function to eliminate the various languages in favor of one, single language everyone could understand. No, each person heard the apostles speaking in their own language. God had not changed His mind since the day He first confused the languages at the tower of Babel. Powerful centralized government among men does more harm than good. Obviously, history shows this has not changed.
When Jesus returns and his administration is setup for ruler-ship, that ruler-ship will be over nations. Nations will continue. It will not seek to eliminate nations. In fact, the saints which will be raised from the dead to take their allotted place in Jesus’ government will be taken from every tribe and tongue, and people and nation (Rev. 5:9-10). All kinds of single nations will still exist and come to the God through Jesus during that time. Yes, Jesus will reign supreme as it says in Zechariah 14 and throughout scripture; but the family will be the promoted method of governance. The local communities (tribes in essence) populated by these local families will be self-governing under Jesus and his saints and their limited government. Tribes will still form nations with various cultures, but Jesus and his saints under him will guide and teach those nations in accordance with the family dynamic. That family dynamic starts with God the Father and each of his individual children. Jesus will teach us more about the Father and we will come to love and admire Him, and thereby grow to become like Him…becoming one in heart and mind with Him.
For now, let’s promote this kind of ideology. Let the leaders of this world step away from large, powerful, and overbearing centralized government and authority. Let the globalist policies come to an end, and let us be committed to limited government in each nation. Let us return to something more akin to a tribal cooperation that allows us to all be more family-focused. And ideally, let us be Father-focused. And remember scripture, Jesus said that no one comes to the Father except through him, the firstborn Son (John 14:6). That’s the way, the truth, and the life. God is the Father of mankind, not human government.
